I try to stay pretty level-headed and just do what I have to do.
It's not that hard to stay grounded. It's the way I was brought up.
I feel comfortable, I'm definitely feeling challenged but with each day I gain more experience. I'm just trying to improve each day.
I always wanted to be the best and to get the most out of myself.
I want to play as soon as possible, You want to play but I don't pick and choose. It's not my job.
I realize there will not be another Gretzky, and I will be the first one to say I will not break his records, .. But for him to say that I could, it means I am doing something right. It was probably the best compliment I could get. I'm going to remember it.
It's tough, it's not the scenario that we wanted for sure. I thought our desperation was there, we worked hard, but it was one game, a lot can happen, they're a good team, and unfortunately we didn't win. We had some bad bounces, and in one game those make a big difference, and unfortunately it didn't go our way. But if we play hard like that, we play desperate like that and control the puck the way we did down low, I like our chances against any team.
Growing up in Canada, I didn't watch football much.
I want to be the best player possible.
I'm most comfortable definitely when I'm on the ice. I love to play. It's something that I just love to do.
Breakaway goals are fun.
Teach your parents well.
I want to reward this city. Pittsburgh is a great hockey town.
My dad introduced me to the game, gave me a stick. Since then I've had a passion for it.
It was amazing. You don't have a choice but to play your best. They force you do do that because they're smart and that's the fun part for me, I'm being challenged to think faster and be creative.
It didn't feel like it was anything too major, but if you had to look at one hit that would be it.
It seems like yesterday I was up there watching my first NHL game, and I was skating on the ice this time. It brings back memories, but at the same time it's something I'll remember forever.
Challenging someone is good. You need to do it. Sometimes they don't even realize you're doing it, like when you joke with a goalie, 'What's wrong today? You losing it?
I don't have one favourite band. I like everything.
It's really football, tennis, and golf that I watch other than hockey.
I'll be the first one to admit my first couple of years I was pretty hard on the refs.
It's more frustrating. My expectation probably wasn't that I'd play [during the playoffs], but I was just trying to make sure that if there was any chance that it was possible to come back that I was ready and that I'd done everything I could to be ready. It's frustrating, disappointing. But can't really control any of that.
I need to work on defensive play and being consistent.
It's been really slow obviously, but I'm not worried about that. I feel like from where I was a couple months ago, things are a lot better. Just being able to skate and stuff was encouraging. Hopefully the next step doesn't have any hurdles.
It is so important to me to have my time away from hockey. Obviously, hockey is my passion; I love it. But definitely for me, time away from the rink and time when my mind isn't thinking about hockey is important.
